No man, educated or uneducated, can afford to be ignorant of the Bible...A thorough understanding of the Bible is better than a college education. Within the covers of this one single book, the Bible, are all the answers to all the problems we face today. If only people would read it and believe!

Tuesday, January 31, 2012

No matter if we are talking about a person or a nation, forgiveness always follows repentance, regretting what has happened, showing sorrow and remorse for things that we as a nation and also personally have done that was not right. True repentance means turning away from the sins that so easily beset and over whelm us, from thoughts and acts that are wrong and are displeasing to God. For our Nation to survive we must turn toward a life that reflects the Godly ways of our Lord Jesus Christ. We must have leaders in Washington and behind the pulpits of our churches that will call sin just what it is, ‘SIN’. As people of this nation we must condemn the murder of unborn babies, the pass that is given to homosexuals and their open life style. It is not a different life style as our leaders would have us to believe. It is sin. Any nation that condones this is in its last stages of moral corruption.

God has reminded His people of this relationship between forgiveness and repentance by giving his promise to heal their land as a condition. God will do nothing for a country, as a whole that will not condemn the killing of unborn babies or the lewd act of homosexuals. We must realize that God is a Holy God and He cannot, and never will, bless sin or evil. He will not reward that type of behavior. It just will not happen. If He did that He would be violating His very nature. It is time for the people of this nation to wake up, to repent, and seek forgiveness. It is time for us to get rid of any leader in Washington that condones these sins and elect God fearing leaders. It is time for the Nicolaitans of this country to stop promoting godless leaders because of their skin color or what they can do for them. I do not care what color the color of your skin is, if you are a called out people you will obey His words and His voice. If you are a Christian you will do what the word of God says. You will obey His voice.

If we, as a nation, want the Lord’s blessings and protection we must, by all means pursue His ways. And this country as a whole is not doing that. We must become a Holy people, because He is Holy! (Lev. 11:44) (1 Peter 1: 15-16) Can this nation do that? We must rebuild our churches, our camp meeting sites, and those old brush arbors by the side of the road. And most important we need to build a everlasting relationship with our God.

Is the promise that God made in (2 Chr. 7:14) something that we can believe and depend on today? Yes it is! It is important for us to notice and remember that God was speaking to Israel, who had a special relationship with the Lord that no other nation ever had, but when we look at (Lev. 26 and Deut 29) we can also see that it was really a restatement of that promise. Can that statement be applied to the United States or other nations today? I think that it can. The same principal applies that when we as believers humble, ourselves, by praying and calling out to God, confessing our sins and the sins of our nation as a whole God will hear us, forgive our sins, and bring healing to this nation. Yes He will!

Friday, January 27, 2012

Jesus said “If you love me, show it by doing what I’ve told you. I will talk to the Father, and he’ll provide you another Friend so that you will always have someone with you.” - (John 14:15-16)

[1]. CAN YOU FIND A MORE EXCELLENT OBJECT FOR YOUR LOVE THAN JESUS? If you search through the whole creation, could you find any like him? Are riches, honors, pleasures, or other relationships comparable to Jesus, whom you ought to love supremely? Should not the highest good be the best object of your love? Can you love lesser things, and not the greatest good? Is not all the goodness in the creature but as a drop to the sea, as a candle to the sun, as a speck of sand to a mountain- when compared to the goodness that is in Jesus? If David were worth ten thousand other men, is not Jesus, David's Lord, better than all the world?

[2]. IS NOT JESUS THE MOST SUITABLE GOOD FOR YOU? Is liberty so suitable to a captive man, or bread to a hungry man, or health to a sick man, or ease to a suffering man, as Jesus is to a sinful man? Were you not lost, undone and in danger to be damned? Jesus was your saviour, your keeper and your redeemer. "The Son of man came to seek and to save that which was lost," (Luke 19:10). "Wherefore he is able to save to the uttermost all that come unto God by him..." (Heb. 7:25). Jesus is "Mighty to save!"Were you not ignorant, dark, and blind, not knowing the way to heaven and eternal happiness? Didn't you weary yourself trying to find the gate of life, and yet missed it when you had done all you could? Jesus became your Teacher and your Guide, to infallibly direct you to heaven. He anointed your eyes with his eye-salve, even though you were born blind, and then he gave you spiritual sight. Now you are able to see your lost estate, the beauty of Jesus, and the way of salvation.Were you not sick, and full of spiritual diseases? abounding with soul-ailments? even sick unto death? near to eternal death? Jesus was your able and skillful Physician. None whom he has undertaken to cure has ever yet died under his hands. For rather than you justly die of your soul's disease, he made a potion for you, out of his own blood, which, when you drank it, you were made totally well. Therefore he came to be your soul-physician, that he might cure desperate sinners like yourself.Were you not indebted to God? Didn't you owe millions to him, yet did not have a penny to pay? If God were to demand payment from you, would it not have proven your damnation? If his justice were to pursue you, and death arrest you, would not the demons have seized your soul, and thrown it into the prison of hell, from where you should never have been delivered, until you had paid the last penny you owe, which would never be? But now that Jesus has loved you, he has become your Surety, made payment for your debt, and given you freedom.Were you not spiritually polluted and unclean? Had not the leprosy of sin spread over your understanding, your will, your conscience, your memory and all your affections? So that you were defiled all over, and lay wallowing in your blood, cast out because you were so loathsome to God? And in this filthy state, you could never enter into the holy kingdom of God. But Jesus loved you, took away your filthy rags, and gave you a change of clothing made of his righteousness. You said to him, "Lord, if you will, you can make me clean." He in love said to you, "I will, be clean". He bathed you in his own blood, and cleansed you from all your sins (1 John 1:7). Yes, though your sins were as scarlet, they became as white as snow; though they were red like crimson, they became as white as wool.Were you not a captive to Satan and to sin? Drudging elbow deep in the loathsome service of sin? Was not your bondage worse than that of the Israelites in Egypt? And were not Satan and sin as cruel and tyrannical as Pharaoh and his task-masters? Didn't you love your chains of sin? Weren't you at ease in your shackles? Do you remember how Jesus released you from your fetters? Jesus became your Redeemer, and made you free- and then you were free indeed!Were you not an enemy to God? You were born his enemy, and then continued to live as his adversary. Had you died in this condition, your soul would have been alienated from God forever. But now Jesus has become your blessed peacemaker, and by the blood of his cross he reconciled you to God. Were you not spiritually dead? Had you not lost the holy image of God? Though you were dead, Jesus gave you spiritual life and eternal glory.Now, if this was your desperate condition, and Jesus helped you in every respect- then how suitable is he to you? Is not his suitableness to you a foundation for love, and a motive to love him? What an argument is this to win your heart to Jesus! You were lost, but Jesus saved you! You were ignorant, but Jesus taught you! You were sick, but Jesus healed you! You were polluted, but Jesus cleansed you! You were a captive to sin and Satan, and Jesus freed you! You were an enemy of God, and Jesus reconciled you! You were dead, and Jesus gave you spiritual life! Oh, you never found one so suitable for you! Now, even now, he should be loved by you. O, Jesus is the most excellent object for your love, and you should no longer withhold your devotion from him.

[3]. IS NOT JESUS THE MOST SATISFYING GOOD TO YOU? You were destitute, and he supplied you. You were empty, and he filled you. You were poor, and he enriched you. O to love such a Saviour!

[4]. IS NOT JESUS THE MOST DURABLE GOOD TO YOU? When your riches, pleasures, honors and friends shall fail you- Jesus will never fail you.

[5]. IS NOT JESUS A SPECIAL GOOD TO YOU? He was given by special love, to a particular people, and brings with him incredible privileges! All other things you might love are as common to lost people, as well as to the saved. Though a worldly man, whose heart and hands and house, are full of the world, might say, 'Riches are mine'- yet he cannot truly say, 'Jesus is mine'. Let Jesus have the best of your love, because you are the object of his special, electing, redemptive love!

[6]. IS NOT JESUS THE MOST NECESSARY GOOD TO YOU? Do you need food so much when you are hungry, or liberty so much when you are in prison, or medicine so much when you are sick-- as much as Jesus when you are a sinner? You could never have been truly happy, pardoned, reconciled, and forever saved without Jesus. Jesus is needful, because without him, your sin-sick soul would have no cure. He gave you the choicest and the richest cordial. And when you die, he will secure your departing soul. And after death, he will be your forever friend. When all worldly things shall leave you at your grave, Jesus will be yours forever.

[7]. IS NOT JESUS THE MOST PROFITABLE GOOD TO YOU? For when you have him, you have all. Then God is yours, and the Spirit is yours, and the promises are yours, and all the privileges of the bible are yours, and heaven itself shall be forever yours.

[8]. IS NOT JESUS THE MOST DELIGHTFUL GOOD? Some people delight in what they see, some in what they hear, some in what they taste, and some in recreation or amusements. But the delight of knowing Jesus surpasses them all! He is altogether and supremely delightful.

[9]. IS NOT JESUS A SURE GOOD? Other things God may give, and afterwards call for them back again- "Therefore I will take away my grain when it ripens, and my new wine when it is ready. I will take back my wool and my linen..." Hosea 2:9. But God never said, 'I gave such a man my Jesus, but I will take him away.' God may take riches out of your hand, but if you once receive the Lord Jesus, God will never take Jesus out of your heart.

[10]. HAS NOT JESUS DESERVED YOUR LOVE, BY WHAT HE HAS SUFFERED, DONE, GIVEN, PURCHASED, PROMISED AND PREPARED FOR YOU? Behold the wounds which he has endured for you! Behold the crown of thorns on his head, that there may be a crown of glory upon your head! Behold him dying, that you might live! Behold him suffering, that you may be saved! Behold him poor, that you may be made rich with the best, surest and most durable of riches. Behold him condemned, that you may be absolved! Behold him in an agony, that you might have rest and ease in glory. Behold him bearing the cross, and the cross bearing him, that you might not bear the curse! Behold him bearing the Father's wrath, that you might be made the subject of his grace, and the object of his love. And now tell me-- does not this Jesus deserve your love? Should you love any other like him, when none other has done so much for you like he has done? Does the small kindness of a fellow creature draw out your love, and shall not all these great things that Jesus has done for you, kindle a fire of love towards him? How can you bear not to love him?

[11]. IS NOT THE LOVE OF JESUS THE BEST LOVE YOU CAN ATTAIN? It is a pity, that any other object should have your greatest love.

[12]. LOVE TO JESUS IS THE SWEETEST LOVE. The one that loves other things, instead of Jesus, loves nothing but vanity-- and to love vanity will prove troublesome. He that loves riches has disturbing sorrow with this love, fretting fears, and perplexing, anxious cares. So without love to Jesus, love to other things will always be a bitter love. Oh now, how sorry I am that ever I loved the world as I have done- my pleasures, my sin as I have done. But you will never have cause to say, I am sorry that ever I loved Jesus. Never was such a word ever heard. Those who never repent of their love to the world and sin- their worldly love will certainly end in sorrow, and with bitterness of soul be sadly lamented in hell. But what contentment, satisfaction, delight, comfort and joy is there in the loving of Jesus! None can tell so well as you who love him.

[13]. LOVE TO JESUS IS THE SAFEST LOVE. You cannot sin in loving Jesus, except it be in the smallness of it, and not loving him more. You might have fear and trembling in loving other things, and say, 'Do not I sin in this?' But you can never love Jesus too much.

[14]. LOVE TO JESUS IS THE SUREST LOVE. Love to other things is often turned into hatred- love today, and hate tomorrow. But love to Jesus remains firm. Jesus is the surest object of your love- neither men, nor death, nor demons, can take him away from you. Though others might keep us from reading his word, none can keep us from loving Jesus.

[15]. LOVE TO JESUS IS THE NOBLEST LOVE. Love to pleasures, to the world and to sin are base and polluted loves. Love to Jesus is most sublime and lofty. Jesus is the most noble object for your love.

[16]. LOVE TO JESUS IS THE MOST ENDURING LOVE. It is a love that shall never end. Before long, everyone will be done loving this world, even those who love it most and have their hearts most set upon it. Those who now have their hearts full of earth, shall soon have their mouths full of earth, when their bodies lie rotting in the earth- then they will be done loving it. Death, which ends their life in this world, shall end their love to this world.But you, the true lover of Jesus, shall never be done loving him. It is sweet to love Jesus, but this makes it even more sweet-- to think you shall ALWAYS love him- love him in life, love him in death and love him after death. Oh blessed love, that shall never be lost, but last forever!While I was contemplating this, it came into my mind to consider, what those who never love Jesus in this world can love in the next world-- and I could not imagine anything which damned souls in hell can love. I thought, can they love God, Jesus, the Holy Spirit, angels or believers? No, their hatred to all these is, and shall be, more deeply rooted in them, than it ever was while upon earth. Can they love their 'location' in hell? No, they will wish they never had come there. Can they love the 'pains' of hell? No, they grieve and groan under these torments, and are weary to bear them. Can they love the 'devils' in hell? No, they curse them for tempting them to the sin which brought them to their place in hell. Can they love their 'companions' in hell? No, they are an aggravation of one another's misery. Can they love their 'sin' in hell? Alas! all that was pleasurable in sin is gone, and only the pain and sting of sin remain. Can they love their 'being' in hell? They had rather die than live, and cease to be at all, than to continue to be in hell. I do not know what it is that they can love in hell. Oh loathsome place, where there is, and can be, no love! But Oh how lovely is heaven to us! Where love reigns and where love lives! Our life shall be forever a life of love! Dear Lord! save me from hell, because in hell there is no love to you, nor to anything that is good. Sweet Saviour! lead me in the way to heaven, and bring me there, where love to you shall live and last forever.

[17]. ISN'T IT THE WISEST CHOICE TO LOVE JESUS, AND NOT THE THINGS OF THIS WORLD? Everyone loves something. And do those act as rational creatures, as men endued with reason, who do not love Jesus, but give their affections to the world and sin? They love that which cannot love them back, nor satisfy them, and which they must soon part with. "He that loves silver shall not be satisfied with silver; nor he that loves abundance with increase. This is also meaningless," (Eccles. 5:10). "Naked a man comes from his mother's womb, and as he comes, so he departs. He takes nothing from his labor that he can carry in his hand." (Eccl. 5:15). "We brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out".Might you not be rich today, and poor tomorrow? Healthy today, and sick tomorrow? In honor today, and in disgrace tomorrow? Was it not so with Haman? When you have riches and love them, you are not sure to keep them- Will you set your eyes, your heart and your love, "upon that which is not? for riches certainly make themselves wings, and fly away as an eagle towards heaven" (Prov. 23:5). Death carries the lovers of this world far away from the things they love. The pleasures of sin, and also the profits of the world, are but for a season, (Heb. 11:25); and when the season is over, they are gone. But Jesus will never leave you, nor forsake you.

[18]. CAN YOU DO ANYTHING LESS THAN LOVE JESUS, AND CAN YOU DO ANYTHING MORE? Jesus has done such great things for you, is it not a small thing that Jesus should have your love in return? If Jesus had asked you to lay down your life for him, had he called you to give your bodies to be burned for him, should you not have done it? How much more when he says, "just let your hearts but burn in love unto me" -when that burning will not be painful, but delightful! When Naaman came to the prophet to be cleansed of his leprosy, being directed to go and wash in the Jordan, that he should be clean, in anger he went away. But his servant came to him and said, "My father, if the prophet had told you to do some great thing, would you not have done it? How much rather, then, when he says unto you- wash, and be clean?" (2 Kings 5:13). If Jesus had required some great thing, that you might escape great torments, and be partaker of his great salvation, would you not have gladly done it? How much rather, then, when he says, 'Love me, and be saved?'When you have received a great kindness from a friend whom you cannot repay, don't you say, 'I cannot do less than love him'. Yet this small thing of loving Jesus is of greater value to him than all else. You pray to him, but to love him is better. A heart full of love means more to Jesus than a thousand prayers, full of the most eloquent expressions, without love. You hear his word, but to love him is better. You might suffer for him, but to love to him is better. Should you give all your goods to the poor, and your body to the fire for him- yet to give your heart and to love him is still better. And, indeed, except all the former things proceed from love, and are accompanied with love, they are not pleasing to Jesus.

[19]. WILL YOU LOVE WORLDLY THINGS, WHICH YOU MIGHT EASILY LOVE TOO MUCH, AND NOT JESUS WHOM YOU CAN NEVER LOVE TOO MUCH? You might love your riches, your relations, your pleasures, yourself, your liberty and your life too much. In these things your love might easily be too much, and transgress the lawful bounds. And indeed, so much love as you give to these things, more than to Jesus, is too much love. But if you were able to bear it, and could you love Jesus with as much love as all the angels in heaven love him, it would not be too much love for him. Many have complained they loved Christ too little, but no one ever said that Jesus had too much of their love. God blames you, and your conscience accuses you, for your inordinate love to things on earth. But neither God nor conscience will condemn you for the highest degrees of love to Jesus, and things that are above.

[20]. TO TRULY LOVE YOURSELVES, YOU MUST LOVE JESUS SUPREMELY. Does that man truly love himself, who does not regard the salvation of his soul? who ruins himself, and damns himself, and shuts himself out of heaven? Does that man truly love himself, who exposes himself to the wrath of God, to the damnation of hell, and to banishment from the glorious presence of the blessed God? All these things a man brings upon himself for lack of love to Jesus. If then you desire to truly love yourself, you must love Jesus supremely.

[21]. ARE NOT ALL THE DUTIES OF RELIGION SOMETIMES TEDIOUS TO YOU, FOR LACK OF LOVE TO JESUS? Do you find it a burden to pray? a burden to hear or read the word of God? Is it a burden to you to meditate upon God and Christ, and things above? It is all because of smallness of love to Jesus. For love makes hard things easy, and heavy labor to be light.

[22]. DOES NOT JESUS DESERVE YOUR LOVE? Do you not owe it to him? Is it not due to him by virtue of creation? Did not he give your being to you?By virtue of preservation, has not Jesus kept you out of the grave and hell until this day? Justice would have hewn you down, and wrath would have condemned you long ago. And who has procured a pardon for you but Christ? That you are on this side the torments of the damned, not beyond praying, and hearing, and hoping, is all through Christ's securing for you longer time. Except by virtue of Jesus' provision for you, you would not have had a rag for your back, nor a morsel for your mouth, nor sleep for your eyes. By virtue of redemption, when you were worse than nothing, did not he lay down his soul, his life, his blood, as a ransom price for you?If your love is due to him in so many ways, what injustice will it be for you to deny Jesus that which is his due? Are you not careful to give to everyone what you owe them? And does it not ease your mind, that though you are not rich, yet you have given every one his due? Do you not work, and care, and save to give to all what you owe them, and shall Jesus be the only one to whom you will be unjust? If you have not enough to satisfy all your creditors, yet if there is one, whom you love and bear more respect unto- how sure you will be to repay that one first. You should say, 'Though I cannot do as much as I would like, yet Jesus shall not be a loser by me. He shall have my heart and love.'

[23]. IS IT NOT GREAT CONDESCENSION IN JESUS, THAT HE WILL SO KINDLY ACCEPT YOUR LOVE? One so great, accept of the love of one so inferior? One so holy, accept the love of one that is so sinful? One so glorious, accept the love of one so vile? Do great men value the love of beggars? Do princes value the love of peasants? Would a man of noble birth and wealth allow one clothed in rags to love and marry him? Or would he not scorn and reject her love? I think, considering what Jesus is, and what you are-- that you should say, 'If Jesus will allow me, I will love him.' Allow you! Not only so, but he gives you a command to love him, and that upon pain and peril of everlasting damnation. He does not allow you to live without love to him, though for your long refusal he might have justly left you to live without love to him.

[24]. YOU SHOULD NEVER HAVE ANY CAUSE OR REASON TO BE ASHAMED TO LOVE JESUS. Is not the time coming, and the day hastening, when covetous men shall be ashamed of loving the world, and voluptuous men ashamed of loving their pleasures, and ambitious men ashamed of loving their honors? For is it not a horrid shame, that a rational creature should be such a sot as to love sin which is most loathsome, and not to love Jesus who is most lovely? to love deformity, and not beauty?Oh shame, shame! It is a shame that sin should have such esteem, and Jesus such great contempt put upon him. But shame shall before long confound these now shameless wretches, when they shall cry out, "We are ashamed that we loved profits, and not Jesus- houses, lands, lusts, and not Jesus. This is the confusion of our faces, and shame covers us-- that we should be so foolish, and so blind, that we had not sense, nor reason, to distinguish between sin, which is the greatest and most odious evil, and Jesus who is the greatest and most lovely good." But the time will never come, the day will never be, that a gracious soul shall be ashamed of his sincere love to Jesus Christ.

[25]. IS THERE ANY LOVE SO PROFITABLE AS LOVE TO JESUS? "What is a man profited, if he gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?" (Matt. 16:26). By loving Jesus you shall have such a gain that no man can value, that no mind can estimate, that no mathematician, by all his numbers and figures, can compute-- even pardon of innumerable sins, the favor of an infinite and holy God, deliverance from inconceivable torments, possession of endless bliss, and more than I, or any man, can describe or comprehend.

[26]. IS THERE ANY LOVE SO UNIVERSALLY NECESSARY AS LOVE TO JESUS? One man loves one thing, and a second another, and a third another. But there is no necessity that all men should love any one thing except for Jesus, and things pertaining to our having and enjoying him. Love to Jesus is absolutely necessary for poor and rich, for great and small, for noble and lowborn, for learned and unlearned, for slave and free.

[27]. LOVE TO JESUS IS THE ONE GREAT HELP AGAINST THE TEMPTATIONS OF SATAN. Is not Satan your enemy? Is not your heart sometimes anxious to yield to him? But love to Jesus would garrison your hearts, fortify your souls, and make you courageous and resolute against all the batteries of Satan and the assaults of sin. It would make you watchful against the allurements and amusements of the world, so that you would say, 'Shall I offend my dearest Lord? Shall I displease him who has done me such good, such everlasting good? Oh! how can I do this great evil, and sin against him whom I love!' Do you not find that love forbids, and exceedingly restrains, from grieving, offending or wronging the one whom you entirely love?

[28]. LOVE TO JESUS WILL HELP US TO PERSEVERE IN THE CHRISTIAN RACE. When trials, suffering and persecution come, only those who truly love Jesus will be able to endure.

CONCLUSION: What shall I say to advance Jesus in your esteem, that you might love him? Is he not a 'comprehensive' good? Eminently all? There is no goodness in the creature, but it is formally, or virtually, in Jesus. Is there wisdom in the creature? -there is more in Jesus. Is there beauty or power in the creature? -there is much more in Jesus. "For it pleased the Father, that in him should all fullness dwell" (Col. 5:19). Jesus is "full of grace and truth" (John 1:14). This is the One whom I beg you to love. This is he who is altogether lovely and desirable. Consider now, I plead with you-- can you ever imagine a better offer than Jesus? Can you find a better match for your soul? Can you say all this, the one half of this, any one of all these things, concerning the objects you have loved previous to Jesus? Oh then say, 'I never understood the loveliness of Christ before this!' How has sin fooled me! How has the world bewitched me! And how has my foolish wicked heart deceived me, that I have lavished my love upon the creature, and sin, when there was a Christ to love! Such a Christ to love! Such a good as is not to be found in all the world! Now he alone shall have my love, my heart-- my all.-------------- by Thomas Doolittle (1630-1707)

Tuesday, January 24, 2012

Paul wrote that God's invisible attributes are clearly seen through His Creation, so that means everyone including you and me are with out excuse if we refuse to give glory to God. [Romans 1: 20-21] Hundreds of years before Paul the prophet, Isaiah, was told just about the same truth in his vision of God's throne room. He said "His Glory fills the whole earth". [Isaiah 6:3] God has revealed Himself to the whole world through what He has made. [Psalms 19: 1-4] The creation shows not only that we serve a real and living god, but it also shows that He exist. He is a just, righteous, and Holy God.

Some of the church world today thinks and will tell you that God is only in their church, just as the Jews in bible days said that God was confined to their land and no place else. But we see in Isaiah Chapter Six that our Lord's glory fills the whole earth.

When Isaiah saw God sitting on His throne and heard the praises of the Heavenly creatures, he cried out in humility before God, confessing that he was a sinner, a unclean person who had no right to stand in the presence of the living God. Isaiah threw himself on the mercy of God. The joy of all this is that God cleansed Isaiah of his sins. God has not allowed everyone to see him through the same kind of vision that Isaiah was given, but everyday He reveals himself through what He has made. Let us respond the same way that Isaiah did, with sincere and heart felt repentance the same way Isaiah did. The kind of repentance that leads to hope and healing. Remember one day we will see our Lord face to face. What a day that will be!

Sunday, January 22, 2012

Some famous leaders in today’s church world need to stop and think how Jesus became famous among the people in His time on earth. His fame came from the power of His preaching and from those who He healed. It did not come from any mega church, any prosperity messages, or from Him promising any pie in the sky if you gave a certain amount of money. His gatherings came from the word being preached under the anointing and the miracles He performed.

Jesus became famous among His own people, but Our Lord did not handle it like our leaders do today. He showed a very different style for His acclaim that was made among the people. He was not, and never would be like some of the leaders in our churches and the government in today’s world. Instead of a parade of trumpets and chariots or a well planned ceremony down to the last, Jesus rode into town on a donkey, a common beast of burden and a poor mades ride. There was no magnificent war horse. Today most mega preachers have enough cars to drive a different one everyday of the week and some as many airplanes as well. I believe that every man or woman of God should have a nice home, a nice car, and decent clothes, but to many of them, today, are going way beyond that.

Instead of Jesus walking arm in arm with the all powerful, the city officials, and the celebrates of His time he was with a small band of fishermen, a formal tax collector, and some Galileans. That was His parade. [Matthew 21: 12-13]. When Jesus got to the end of the parade route He did not go into the buildings of the rich and famous, or to the rich and powerful. Instead He went into a place of worship. While He was there he overthrew the tables of the money changers, the unjust business owners that used the poor and the temple as a place to make money. Jesus’ eyes were on the blind, the sick, the lame, and the little children. [Matt. 21:14-16] And at the end of His days work He spent the night at a modest house in Bethany [Matt. 21:17] Jesus talked to and focused His time on, mostly, the people outside of the system of power and privilege [Luke 4:18] How does a lot of Gods ministers measure up to that?

Wednesday, January 18, 2012

THIS IS A EMAIL THAT WAS SENT TO ME AND IT IS A VERY GOOD LESSON TO BE LEARNED BY ALL

We were the only family with children in the restaurant. I sat Erik in a high chair and noticed everyone was quietly sitting and talking. Suddenly, Erik squealed with glee and said, 'Hi.' He pounded his fat baby hands on the high chair tray. His eyes were crinkled in laughter and his mouth was bared in a toothless grin, as he wriggled and giggled with merriment.I looked around and saw the source of his merriment. It was a man whose pants were baggy with a zipper at half-mast and his toes poked out of would-be shoes. His shirt was dirty and his hair was uncombed and unwashed.. His whiskers were too short to be called a beard and his nose was so varicose it looked like a road map.

We were too far from him to smell, but I was sure he smelled.. His hands waved and flapped on loose wrists.. 'Hi there, baby; hi there, big boy. I see ya, buster,' the man said to Erik.

My husband and I exchanged looks,'What do wedo?'

Erik continued to laugh and answer, 'Hi.'Everyone in the restaurant noticed and looked at us and then at the man. The old geezer was creating a nuisance with my beautiful baby. Our meal came and the man began shouting from across the room, 'Do ya patty cake? Do you know peek-a-boo? Hey, look, he knows peek- a-boo.'

Nobody thought the old man was cute. He was obviously drunk.My husband and I were embarrassed. We ate in silence; all except for Erik, who was running through his repertoire for the admiring skid-row bum, who in turn, reciprocated with his cute comments.We finally got through the meal and headed for the door. My husband went to pay the check and told me to meet him in the parking lot. The old man sat poised between me and the door. 'Lord, just let me out of here before he speaks to me or Erik,' I prayed. As I drew closer to the man, I turned my back trying to sidestep him and avoid any air he might be breathing. As I did, Erik leaned over my arm, reaching with both arms in a baby's 'pick-me-up' position. Before I could stop him, Erik had propelled himself from my arms to the man.Suddenly a very old smelly man and a very young baby consummated their love and kinship. Erik in an act of total trust, love, and submission laid his tiny head upon the man's ragged shoulder. The man's eyes closed, and I saw tears hover beneath his lashes. His aged hands full of grime, pain, and hard labor, cradled my baby's bottom and stroked his back. No two beings have ever loved so deeply for so short a time.I stood awestruck. The old man rocked and cradled Erik in his arms and his eyes opened and set squarely on mine. He said in a firm commanding voice, 'You take care of this baby.'Somehow I managed, 'I will,' from a throat that contained a stone.

He pried Erik from his chest, lovingly and longingly, as though he were in pain. I received my baby, and the man said, 'God bless you, ma'am, you've given me my Christmas gift.'I said nothing more than a muttered thanks. With Erik in my arms, I ran for the car. My husband was wondering why I was crying and holding Erik so tightly, and why I was saying,'My God, my God, forgive me.'I had just witnessed Christ's love shown through the innocence of a tiny child who saw no sin, who made no judgment; a child who saw a soul, and a mother who saw a suit of clothes. I was a Christian who was blind, holding a child who was not.. I felt it was God asking, 'Are you willing to share your son for a moment?' when He shared His for all eternity. How did God feel when he put his baby in our arms 2000 years ago.The ragged old man, unwittingly, had reminded me, 'To enter the Kingdom of God , we must become as little children.'

If this has blessed you, please bless others by sending it on. Sometimes, it takes a child to remind us of what is really important. We must always remember who we are, where we came from and, most importantly, how we feel about others. The clothes on your back or the car that you drive or the house that you live in does not define you at all; it is how you treat your fellow man that identifies who you are.

Saturday, January 14, 2012

Remember the movie called "THE STING" were the corrupt banker was set up? That was a pretty slick operation in that movie. In today's world these string operations ( the real ones) that our government does always generate plenty of publicity about what the sting was about. After the news they put the news out for all to here. In Bible times the Babylonian officials conducted their own sting that caught the three Hebrew children who were provincial governors in a clear violation of Nebuchadnezzar's command and his law. So what was was the crime that Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego committed? It was failing to bow down to the ninety foot image that was gold Plated. [Daniel 3: 8-12] Their crime was they would only serve the living God who made Heaven and earth.

Their disobedience outraged Nebuchadnezzar so much that he did not wait around, sentence was passed and they were put unto the fiery furnace. [Daniel 3: 19-23] The three Hebrew children committed a act of disloyalty to the king, but it was a courageous act of loyalty to their God. Years later something similar happened when Darius was king. Informers exposed Daniel for not obeying a degree against praying to any god or ruler but Darius. Daniels was thrown into the lions den for punishment. [Daniel 6:16] Both times we can see that the Lord delivered his people from death, although not from the threat of death. Their bold stand for the truth and their God influenced others to fear God, and also helped remove the trouble makers. [Daniel 3:26] and [Daniel 6: 21-27].

In this day and time we must ask ourselves what it would be like if our government used stings to expose Christian Believers for worshiping and practicing there faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Just think what would it be like for the government to catch you in a sting for doing just that. BEING LOYAL TO THE LORD! Some who read this might laugh or say that this writer is going to far. But is He? It is already being reported, (that this very thing is happening, in some countries in the middle eat. Christians in this country (The USA) today are being discriminated against more and more everyday by a government that wants to reject the living God and replace it with a form of religion that is called "Political Correctness" God is being rejected in our schools, in our court rooms, and in our very government that was found on the laws of the Bible and their belief of Jesus The Christ.

I must tell you that there is coming (and it is upon us now) a evil spirit that will cause the government to do today the same thing that the Babylonian government did in Bible times. Things are lining up fast for this very thing to happen and then I believe that is when the Lord our God will say "ENOUGH IS ENOUGH" and we (His followers) will be out of here. Even a fool can see what is happening right now, even though in his heart the fool will not bow down to the One who can save him. Even now there are demon powers lining up to take over this country. We (all true believers) must pray: "EVEN COME LORD JESUS" That is my prayer" What is yours my brothers and sisters?

Friday, January 13, 2012

As followers of Jesus The Christ we must be prepared to be hated by by some people because of our commitment and love for Jesus. That is a fact of life. All of us, as his followers, expect to be, misunderstood or misrepresented, every once in a while because we follow the Lord. even to the point that some of our friends or people that we associate with think that we go overboard with our love for the Savior or what they would call religion. The fact is, because you are a Christian, most people will hate you, look at the strong words Jesus used in [John 15: 18-25] He said "they will hate you" and "they will do wrong to you". He made it very clear that when our true feeling, our true desires, and our true commitment are made clear that is when our commitment to Christ will began to cost us something.

What has your faith cost you as a follower of Jesus The Christ. A chance at a big career, a marriage, a job, or a friendship? Have you ever been ostracized, criticized, faced legal action, or shunned by your co workers or even by your family? Or have you not experienced anything at all? I'm here to tell you that following Jesus has a cost and if anybody thinks that they can get by without paying it they are mistaken and are misguided in their thinking. In fact Jesus tells us Himself, if there is no cost there is no genuine commitment.

Sometimes it is possible for a Christian, by word or action to cause offence, because what is said or done are inappropriate. In that case, the hostility we receive is not persecution. There are some Christians like that and we are not to be like that. How are we to be? Just like Jesus [John 1-14] we are called to be people of grace and truth. That means we are not to be obnoxious and rude to anyone. You can not win the lost that way. True persecution involves unmerited hostility for doing good works the same way Jesus did. We must be like Jesus, His hand extended to a lost and evil world.

Thursday, January 12, 2012

The woman who was caught in the very act of adultery and was dragged before Jesus had to have been just plain out humiliated and embarrassed as she was brought to the temple by self-righteous men who were only using her, to begin with, to try to trick Jesus who they hated. According to the law, at that time, adultery was punished by death of both parities. (Lev 20-10). So my question is this: WHAT HAPPEN TO THE MAN IN THIS STORY? Or was there a double standard here?

What is so great about this story Jesus did not challenge the hypocrisy of these men.. But what he did do was set a new standard for judgement. Let someone who was perfect decide the case. (John 8: 7-11) (Matt 5: 48) And in that group of people He was the only one who could really do it. And he did decide the case, because he would not condemn the woman, but instead told her "Go and sin no more". I'm so glad that when I was a sinner it was Jesus who found me not guilty and not some of the condemning church world. Oh what a Savior!

The sad thing is just like in those days, most, people today have a double standard in their moral judgment of other people. Most people are so eager to point out and make a big to do over the speck in someone eye when in their own eye there is a mud pie and they ignore that. Like the woman in this Bible story there are those that have experienced the grace of God and His forgiveness for sins that they have committed. If God has forgiven us, let us all live in his Almighty Grace and sin no more. We were all lost and undone at one time, without God or His Son when He Reached down his hand for us. God Bless!

Tuesday, January 10, 2012

"And then the sign of the Son of Man will
appear in the sky, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they
will see the Son of Man coming on the
clouds of the sky with power and great glory. (Matthew 24:30)

As I was researching
material for a new article to post I came across different images of the “Battle
Hymn of The Republic” and in those pictures was a picture of President Obama and
when you follow the link it is all about him. It just about proclaimed him God.
What a shame to not really know the true meaning of that song. Throughout the
history of the United States no man did it all and whatever man did, it was by
the Grace of God. From the very beginning of this country to the present we exist
by the Grace of God and not by no man’s hand or doing. I’m sorry to say for
some of you that read this, it also includes Obama.

I remember when I was
growing up hearing the song “BattleHymnof theRepublic” and the words to that song always stuck with me during all the years of
my life, but I did not have a
complete understanding what the words were referring to until the later years
of my life. The song was written during
the United States Civil War, but most of the words have nothing to do with the
battles that were happening during that time. Since I become a Christian I have
become to know the meaning of those precious words in that song. The words that
always will bring a tear to my eye and a feeling of His Almighty Presence. Seeing the coming of the Lord is also a
prophetic and a visionary reference to the New Testament, which says that when
Jesus returns in gloryall eyes, yours and mine, everybody will
see Him.I think that means,
to me, that it will be somewhat spectacular, breathtaking, and amazing. All
true believers are always waiting and watching for the coming of our Lord.

The next verse says,
"He is trampling out the vintage where the grapes of wrath are
stored," The reference is actually another reference to the second coming
of Jesus in judgment:So the angel swung his
sickle to the earth and gathered the clusters from the vine of the earth, and
threw them into the great wine press of the wrath of God. (Revelation 14:19) The third verse says, "He hath loosed the fateful lightning
of His terrible swift sword." Once again, the mention and quotation is
to the Bible's book of Revelation. Lightning is mentioned twice in Revelation,associated with God's wrath and
judgment. Likewise, "His terrible swift sword" is a reference to the
Lord's judgment using a two-edged sword.The Old Testament also mentions the
Lord's judgment using a sword.

The truth is an important part of Christianity.In fact, the truth is so important
that Jesus described himself asbeingthe truth: Jesus said to him, "I am
the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through
Me. (John 14:6) The Lord is the source of all
truth and we must never forget that. "His truth is marching on" is
symbolic and emblematic of the preaching of the gospel of truth (Galatians
2:5,14,Ephesians
1:13,Colossians
1:5). We must, as Christians hold our banner high and march on
to Zion.

As you read each and every stanza to the song you will see and if
you are like me you will feel the very presents of the Lord. Such a beautiful song.
I am honored to be called a Christian and an American. God bless America as “His
truth marches on!

Monday, January 9, 2012

As we steps forward through time, fewer and fewer people are still
faithfully awaiting the return of Jesus Christ. The skeptics, the disbelievers,
and the doubting Thomas keep telling us
we, the believers, are foolish. After all, it has been over two thousand years
since Jesus promised to return, and he still has not come back yet. However, it is important to remember that
there were prophecies of Christ's first coming dating all the way back to the
book of Genesis. By the time Jesus was finally born, very few people were still
waiting for him to arrive, but yet Jesus came just as the scriptures said He
would. Perhaps this is the reason Jesus asked in Luke 18:8, "Nevertheless
when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?" My
faith is in my Saviour. I will keep looking up because I know that my
redemption draws nigh!

Yes, our Lord and Saviour,
Jesus Christ, is going to return, and I believe, with all my heart, it will be
very soon. Soon and very soon we are going to see the King. The signs are all
around us and the conditions of the end times which Jesus spoke of are coming
to pass before our very eyes. As we watch and pray and see the circumstances of
this world grow worse by the day, the cry of God's people is "Even so,
come, Lord Jesus."

Tuesday, January 3, 2012

Jesus first came to earth over two thousand years ago. After his death and resurrection He returned to heaven. The angels said, at that time, to the people that watched Jesus ascend into Heaven, "This same Jesus, which is taken up from you into Heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen Him go into Heaven (Acts 1:11) I read once that there are more than three hundred references to Christ coming back to earth (His second coming) in the New Testament. There are reasons why the Lord Jesus must come again. The first reason is to fulfill all prophecies. (Isaiah 9: 6-7). Another reason is that He might triumph over death. (1 Corinthians 15: 51-57) Another reason is Christ will be Lord over all. (Philippians 2: 9-11) The fourth reason is that Jesus will come again to receive His faithful people unto Himself just like He promised all believers. (John 14: 1-6) Another reason why He must come back to earth is that the Holy vengeance of our God must be shown. God is a Holy God and cannot and will not tolerate sin. (2 Thessalonians 1: 6-7) There are many more reasons why He is coming again and people today if they are not saved will just not listen. But He will come again just as the Holy Bible said and then where will these people be? We must be ready saints for that blessed coming of out Lord.

We can read of many signs of the Lords second coming. Matthew 24 gives a list of definite signs of that will precede our Lords return and His coming back. There will be wars and rumors of wars, famines and pestilences will abound and be many, Earthquakes will be many and occur in different places. These things get worse and worse everyday. But here is a definite sign that we see described in the Bible: "As the days of Noah were, so shall the coming of the son of man be." The days of Noah were characterized by extensive drinking and irregularities concerning the marriage relationship. In the book of Daniel chapter 12 verse 4 tells us another sign of the end of time: "Many shall run to and fro, and knowledge will increase" Just in our generation we have seen an increase in travel (supersonic jets, and interstate highways), extensive eating and drinking (more and more eating places along the highways, a big increase in the divorce rate and just look how the illicit sex activity has run out of control. Anything goes. And our government (American Government) backs it. Never have we seen so much evil or turning from god.He is coming and soon. If we are not in the very last days my friends we never will be. Jesus could come any minute. It may be night or noon, but one thing for sure He is coming soon.

We as Christians have a duty until Jesus Christ comes again. Some people would tell you to run to the mountain tops and wait until the Lord comes, or go to the desert, but the Bible tells us that we should be patient and wait with courage, until the Lord comes. I tell you brothers and sisters the coming of the Lord is near. (James 5:8) Let us hold each other up in prayer as that day draws nearer. We need to be on guard like a good soldier, watching for his return. We need to arm our self with the armor of faith and love, and wearing as out helmet, the happy hope of salvation. Our labors should be those of pleasing an almighty God, so we will be excepted by Him. For myself I want to be what He wants me to be.

Along with the gift of eternal life there comes the understanding that God wants us to turn from sinful pleasures and godless living that will bring damnation to our souls. All people need to turn to a good, God fearing life that is "looking for that Blessed hope and the glorious appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ. (Titus 2:11-15) All of us want to go to Heaven, But there is only one way. a person cannot live just any old way and expect to go to heaven when the Lord returns. A person can go to heaven without wealth or money (The trip has been paid for by the precious Blood of Jesus), without being famous, or a great name, with no education, without beauty, without friends, or without thousands of other things. but no one will ever go to heaven with out Jesus Christ. Even So come Lord Jesus!

Jesus first came to earth over two thousand years ago. After his death and resurrection He returned to heaven. The angels said, at that time, to the people that watched Jesus ascend into Heaven, "This same Jesus, which is taken up from you into Heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen Him go into Heaven (Acts 1:11) I read once that there are more than three hundred references to Christ coming back to earth (His second coming) in the New Testament. There are reasons why the Lord Jesus must come again. The first reason is to fulfill all prophecies. (Isaiah 9: 6-7). Another reason is that He might triumph over death. (1 Corinthians 15: 51-57) Another reason is Christ will be Lord over all. (Philippians 2: 9-11) The fourth reason is that Jesus will come again to receive His faithful people unto Himself just like He promised all believers. (John 14: 1-6) Another reason why He must come back to earth is that the Holy vengeance of our God must be shown. God is a Holy God and cannot and will not tolerate sin. (2 Thessalonians 1: 6-7) There are many more reasons why He is coming again and people today if they are not saved will just not listen. But He will come again just as the Holy Bible said and then where will these people be? We must be ready saints for that blessed coming of out Lord.

We can read of many signs of the Lords second coming. Matthew 24 gives a list of definite signs of that will precede our Lords return and His coming back. There will be wars and rumors of wars, famines and pestilences will abound and be many, Earthquakes will be many and occur in different places. These things get worse and worse everyday. But here is a definite sign that we see described in the Bible: "As the days of Noah were, so shall the coming of the son of man be." The days of Noah were characterized by extensive drinking and irregularities concerning the marriage relationship. In the book of Daniel chapter 12 verse 4 tells us another sign of the end of time: "Many shall run to and fro, and knowledge will increase" Just in our generation we have seen an increase in travel (supersonic jets, and interstate highways), extensive eating and drinking (more and more eating places along the highways, a big increase in the divorce rate and just look how the illicit sex activity has run out of control. Anything goes. And our government (American Government) backs it. Never have we seen so much evil or turning from god.He is coming and soon. If we are not in the very last days my friends we never will be. Jesus could come any minute. It may be night or noon, but one thing for sure He is coming soon.

We as Christians have a duty until Jesus Christ comes again. Some people would tell you to run to the mountain tops and wait until the Lord comes, or go to the desert, but the Bible tells us that we should be patient and wait with courage, until the Lord comes. I tell you brothers and sisters the coming of the Lord is near. (James 5:8) Let us hold each other up in prayer as that day draws nearer. We need to be on guard like a good soldier, watching for his return. We need to arm our self with the armor of faith and love, and wearing as out helmet, the happy hope of salvation. Our labors should be those of pleasing an almighty God, so we will be excepted by Him. For myself I want to be what He wants me to be.

Along with the gift of eternal life there comes the understanding that God wants us to turn from sinful pleasures and godless living that will bring damnation to our souls. All people need to turn to a good, God fearing life that is "looking for that Blessed hope and the glorious appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ. (Titus 2:11-15) All of us want to go to Heaven, But there is only one way. a person cannot live just any old way and expect to go to heaven when the Lord returns. A person can go to heaven without wealth or money (The trip has been paid for by the precious Blood of Jesus), without being famous, or a great name, with no education, without beauty, without friends, or without thousands of other things. but no one will ever go to heaven with out Jesus Christ. Even So come Lord Jesus!

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Bill Patchett

There is nothing better than studying the Bible, the history it contains, the stories of love and compassion, and the prophecies that are fulfilled and yet to be fulfilled. All my life I have found great comfort in reading the passages contained there. If people would only read and study the Bible for a half hour a day they would see the beauty of this Book. They would see that the answer to all life's problems are found between those sacred pages. and they would also see why The Bible is and always will be the Greatest Book in the world. It contains the very word of God. I am a moral conservative who believes that Christian values are a big part of what makes our Country work.